#BlackGirlMagic // Penny For Your Thoughts

The older I’ve gotten I’ve become very aware of what it means to be a black female in the world: how I’m perceived, how visible or invisible I am in situations. Whether it be standing at the bar waiting patiently to be served and a white male in a suit bowls up to the bar and starts to order his list of spirits before I can open my mouth. ‘Did he not see me, or is he just rude?’ are my thoughts. I say something, puff up my chest “Excuse me, I was actually here first” he blushes and apologises, insisting I make my order. When I was younger I probably wouldn’t have said anything but the older I get the more defiant I am. Defiant in being loud, being heard and not being invisible. It’s a little thing called #BlackGirlMagic

Often found as a hashtag at the bottom of Instagram selfies, it’s so much more than that. It’s a daily reminder that even if the man at the bar doesn’t acknowledge you there’s a whole movement dedicated to uplifting, inspiring, motivating, supporting and praising black girls and women. Online and in the real world.

#BlackGirlMagic is Ray BLK shelling it down on Jools Holland, with her amazing waist length braids, and let us not forget the bandana. Hitting every note, but more importantly just being her, no compromise.

#BlackGirlMagic is Solange dropping one hell of a body of work which, in its rawest form, somehow manages in 21 tracks to beautifully tell the story of what it’s like to be a women of colour. And those videos celebrating the rainbow of melanin captured into contemporary art…

#BlackGirlMagic is gal-dem creating a publication which reports on the multifaceted experiences of women of colour.

#BlackGirlMagic is Lupita Nyong’o, just being Lupita… and gracing the cover of multiple high-profile glossy magazine covers along the way.

#BlackGirlMagic is Clara Amfo blessing the Radio 1 airwaves every weekday morning with her full afro and husky voice!

#BlackGirlMagic is Little Simz defying the odds: an independent rapper who doesn’t flaunt her sexuality but remains glamorous and graceful!

These are just a few examples of amazing women of colour leaving trails of various inspiration. I don’t remember having these reference points growing up but I’m grateful that the next generation will be inspired in abundance. __

Jamz is a DJ on BBC Radio 1Xtra and the founder of new producer platform Future Bounce. Twitter | Facebook